GetGo Promo Winners Drive Home Brand-New Honda Mobilio Vehicles

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Andrew Del Pilar (4^th from left) quickly fell in love with his new car which he christened ‘Imman’. Awarding his brand new ride is Mr. Nik Laming, General Manager for Cebu Pacific Loyalty Division (3^rd from right), and representatives from GetGo and Honda.

He got more than what they asked for....actually, they got what they asked for.

Three GetGo members—Andrew Del Pilar, Janna Leah Dans, and Jeane Maravillas Regondola—casually converted their loyalty points to GetGo points in the hopes of earning bonus points and inching themselves closer and faster to dreams of flying for free.

Little did they know that this would give them the rewards of a lifetime as they became the lucky winners of brand-new Honda Mobilio vehicles in GetGo’s “Points to Fly, Points to Drive” raffle promo.

“I converted my Citibank credit card points to GetGo points to avail of free flights for an upcoming family trip to attend one of my best friend's wedding,” recalled Janna, a GMA Network project manager. “This is the first time that I used my points to get free flights,” admits the GetGo member who converted the credit card points she earned in the last 8 years.

Inter-Agency Task Force Secures LASURECO Compound

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Securing Energy Facilities (IATFSEF) composed of the Department of Energy, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the other industry players moved to secure the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO) compound.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi earlier issued firm marching orders to the IATFSEF to “secure every energy facility in Mindanao.”

Through the IATFSEF, the system operator–National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)--reported that the Mindanao Grid is now under normal operation. NGCP initially reported a lower electricity demand in Lanao del Sur reaching only 5 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday (24 May) which increased to 11 MW today, lower than the usual demand of 17 MW.

As an immediate concern in yesterday’s IATFSEF meeting, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and LASURECO reported today that 95% of electricity services in Marawi City has been restored.

According to NEA, the remaining non-operational assets are scheduled to be restored today as well. They are also monitoring and awaiting ground data for re-energization of affected towns in the 2nd District of Lanao del Sur, including Wato, Tugaya, Bacolod Kalawi, Madamba, Madalum, Ganasi, Pualas, and Pagayawan.

“We are pooling our resources and seeking assistance from the AFP and the PNP to normalize the security situation, protect our people and secure energy facilities affected by the fighting,” Cusi said.

“We must prioritize the safety of our people, especially those personnel on duty in the energy facilities, and at the same time protect our energy assets," Cusi emphasized.

Cusi said the Inter-Agency Task Force had been organized to prevent terrorists from targeting energy facilities and to help restore normalcy in the province as soon as possible.

In a related development, Palawan Lomondaya, National Power Corp. (NPC) Plant Manager of Agus 1&2 Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) Complex, has reported that he is planning to shut down one unit only to preserve station service for Agus 1 HEP due to an M-79 grenade landing in the plant's vicinity, apparently fired by the Maute Group that's now the target of intensive search-and-destroy operations by the military. Nevertheless, the NPC are continuously are mobilizing their technical personnel to ensure the delivery of sufficient supply and to meet the demand of its consumers.

"I commend the energy personnel on the ground who have been ensuring the delivery of basic energy services to our people, especially in Marawi City," Cusi concluded.

DOE and EU Join Hands to Elevate Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Product Standards in PH

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As part of the Philippine-EU Access to the Sustainable Energy Program (ASEP), the Department of Energy (DOE) held on Wednesday at the F1 Hotel in Bonifacio Global City the first of a series of several public consultations on the development of energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) policies of the Philippine government.

The forum assembled experts and stakeholders in the field of EE&C to tackle and share technical know-how on the Particular Product Requirements (PPR) under the DOE's expanded Philippine Energy Standard and Labeling Program (PESLP).

The DOE formulated the PPRs to guide manufacturers, importers, distributors and dealers as to the required energy efficiency standards for the following products: room air-conditioners, refrigerators and freezers, lighting products (e.g., CFL, linear and circular fluorescent lamps), washing machines, televisions, light-duty motor vehicles and other energy-consuming devices.

According to DOE-Energy Research Testing and Laboratory Services (ERTLS) Division Chief Engr. Isagani Soriano, the purpose of the PPRs is to “provide the detailed technical requirements for both refrigerating appliances and air-conditioners covered by the PESLP; particularly requiring the attachment of an energy label or the so-called 'Yellow Label'.”

"Meeting the PPR also "indicates compliance with the Minimum Energy Performance (MEP) for the specific appliance. MEPS is the government’s policy that is guiding the business sector that appliances covered under the program are meeting the established energy efficiency criteria for a particular technology,” Engr. Soriano added.

DOE-ERTLS Senior Science Research Specialists Engr. Jomar S. Landicho and Engr. Herbert S. Orencia presented the draft PPRs for air-conditioners and refrigerating appliances, respectively.

Representatives from the government and the private sector were on hand to provide comments and recommendations to improve the Philippine PPRs.

Guests included representatives fron the Department of Trade Industry-Bureau of Product Standards (DTI-PBS), GIZ, Hanabishi, Omni Solid Services Inc., Panasonic, LG, Haier, PAIA, Hitachi, Concepcion Midea, TUV Rheinland Phil. Inc., ICASEA, IIEE Foundation Inc., Daikin Airconditioning, Fortune Gen. Mdse., CYA Industries, TCL, Sharp Philippines Inc., Trademaster, Camel, Electrolux, Kolin, Koppel, Stellar, Samsung, Tosot Philippines and Whirlpool/Fujidenzo.

Also present in the event were ASEP experts led by Team Leader Mads Christensen, and EE&C experts Detlef Loy, Lori Navarro and former ERTLS Director Raquel Huliganga.

EEC plays an essential role in the country's overall energy policy in view of social and binding international obligations to take an active part in the global campaign on environment protection and climate change mitigation.

DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has previously emphasized that “energy efficiency and conservation policies are vital to the country’s contribution to the global movement of cutting down carbon emissions, the attainment of sustainable development and the improvement of quality of life of the Filipino consuming public. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance the consumer's power of choice."

The ASEP is a joint undertaking of the DOE and the EU that is committed to the goals of total electrification, energy security, energy efficiency and sustainability in the Philippines.